2015 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Teens (ages 13+)

Teens may tell you they don’t know what they want but deep down they really do. Chances are that they’ve hinted. You just need to listen really carefully to figure out what it is and when you do, they’ll be impressed that you got them the item they’ve been coveting and have been trying to save for. No, I’m not recommending you get your teen a car but some of these gifts are total splurges that will serve them well in later life while also upping their cool factor in the short term.

Samsung NX500 ($799.99)– While it’s true that most teens take photos with their phones, those serious about their photography or filmmaking will appreciate the gift of a Samsung NX500 camera. Even though it’s far less bulky than a traditional DSLR, this you don’t sacrifice image quality by having a smaller body with this smart mirrorless camera. The NX500 features 28 MP, shoots at speeds up to 9 FPS at full resolution, has 205 phase detect auto focus points, and the ability to capture UHD/4K video. NFC (near field communication) and a dedicated WiFi connection makes it easy to send photos directly to your teen’s phone for immediate sharing on social channels. It comes with a 16-50mm lens to get you started but the gift of glass makes for endless birthday and holiday gifts as your teen gets more serious about their photography. Amazon is currently offering a special PIX2015 Bundle that comes with a 16-50mm and 30 mm lens on Amazon for $862.72.

YouTube Red ($9.99/month)— Content creators and consumers will love YouTube Red, a new membership service designed to provide users with the ultimate YouTube experience. YouTube Red lets teens enjoy videos across all of YouTube without ads, while also letting them save videos to watch offline on your phone or tablet and play videos in the background, all for $9.99 a month. The membership extends across devices and anywhere you sign into YouTube, including the recently launched Gaming app and a brand new YouTube Music app to enjoy YouTube Red anywhere you sign-in to YouTube.

Lumee Smartphone Case (starting at $49.99)— Always in search of the perfect light for a selfie? Search no more thanks to the Lumee Smartphone Case that is front lit so your teen will always put their best face forward in photos shared across social media channels. Comes in purple, gold, pink, black, white, navy, and lime green for iPhone 5, 5s, 6, 6+, 6s, and Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S6.

Razer Mamba Tournament Edition ($89.99)— How much difference does a good mouse make when gaming? Serious gamers will tell you it makes all the difference in the world. Razer Mamba is the world’s most precise gaming mouse thanks to at 16,000 DPI 5G laser sensor for incredible accuracy during play, an impressive ergonomic design that minimizes stress on your hand and fingers for a comfortable experience, and cool customization that allows you to choose the color of the logo, scroll wheel, and side strips according to your preference. And parents? If you don’t fully understand what all of this means, it’s ok. Your teen gamer will and they’ll be even more excited that you cared to get them something so amazing!

Micro USB Charging Bracelets (5 for $9.88 on Amazon)— Never be without a charging cable again especially with this set of 5 that comes in an array of colors so you can always have one around your wrist at all times. These are a steal for 5 for under $10 on Amazon especially since they ship for free for Amazon Prime members!

Bubble Calendar ($26)— They may have smartphones that tell them the date, time, and everything else they need to know but there’s still something about having a calendar, especially one that lets you pop your way through 2016. The Bubble Calendar is a poster sized wall calendar with a bubble over each day that is just waiting to be popped. It’s like a big kid version of popping bubble wrap but in a much more grown up and restrained way!

GoPro HERO4 Session ($245)— This tiny cube-shaped handheld camera is smaller and lighter than others in the GoPro line but just as easy to operate as you teen captures 1080p60 video and 8MP photos of all of their adventures. It’s a perfect gift heading into ski and snowboard season especially if you add a helmet mount, chest strap, or an extra micro SDHC memory card.

Joe’s Jeans #Hello Charger Jeans ($189)— Never again should you have to hear the excuse that her phone died if you get her a pair of the #Hello Charger Jeans. While I haven’t personally tried these myself, I happened upon a display in a San Francisco store window and went in to check them out. They feature a pocket for your iPhone and another to stash the included Joe’s Slim Battery in the specially designed waistband pocket. I love the idea but loved it even more when I was an iPhone user. As a Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ user, I’ll be waiting for Joe’s to make a #Hello Charger Jean to fit my new phone.

Kraken Neon Pro Neon Series Headphones ($89.99)— For the teen in your life who loves to listen to music or game, you can’t go wrong with the Kraken Neon Pro Series Headphones. On top of being ideal for extended wear, these boast powerful high-quality audio drivers for listening to music or playing video games. Additionally, these headphones come in six fashionable neon colors, ideal for the kid who was born to stand out.

Super Star Wireless Bluetooth Speaker ($129.95 or on Amazon starting at $58.94))— Not all wireless Bluetooth speakers are the same and as someone who gets a lot to look at, I have to say that the Super Star by Monster is one of my favorites. Not only is it the world’s smallest Bluetooth speaker with audiophile sound but this pocket-size, water-resistant portable speaker is smaller than most smartphones and features amazing sound that really fills the room or your outdoor space just as well as any larger speaker would.

Crossbody Power (starting at $69.99-$75 on Amazon)— Chic Buds’ Crossbody Power is the perfect purse for the trendsetter or the professional who needs to charge her phone and still have a place for the other items she needs while on the go. Large enough to function as her main purse and powerful enough to charge any smartphone, the Crossbody Power comes in clay, red, plum, and chocolate vegan leather and comes with a satin interior so it goes with any outfit and can help her stay++ powered throughout the day.

Colorama Coloring Book ($19.99)— Coloring books are all the rage for those far older than the traditional coloring book target market thanks to intricate designs that help provide an escape from homework and aspects of teen life. One favorite is the Colorama Coloring Book that provides over 100 unique designs, comes with deluxe dual colored pencils, and provides a great excuse for your teen to just relax in a screen-free way and regress to their younger years from time to time!

Guitar Hero Live ($99 for all platforms) — For every teen that dreams of playing for hundreds of thousands of screaming fans at the biggest venues, the new Guitar Hero Live lets you rock in front of real crowds because YOU are the rock star! From your perspective on stage, players look out into a sea of people who are happy to cheer and boo you when rocking to songs by Rage Against the Machine, Fall Out Boy, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Green Day, The Rolling Stones, and so many more. New features include New Guitar, a revamped guitar controller that better mimics the playing of real world guitar notes and chords and GHTV, a 24 hour playable music video network, allowing fans to browse channels and access a constantly-updated library of official music videos and other featured content The full list of artists and tracks can be seen here.

Need more ideas? Visit my past Teen Gift Guides and other 2015 Gift Guides that will help you find the best gifts for all ages!

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Welcome! I'm Leticia, founder of Tech Savvy Mama and a DC Metro area dwelling mom of two elementary aged children. With a background in classroom technology integration and school administration, I now use everything I learned from teaching children, teachers, and principals as a professional blogger, social media strategist, and freelance writer. Read more...